Newark Police Department – 91��Ƭ

Retired Member of Newark Police Department Now 91��Ƭ Security Operations Manager

Michelle Lang — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 15:43:11 +0000

91��Ƭ’s Security Department has a new person at the helm. Derek White joined the NCC family as the Security Operations Manager on June 1. White was a longtime member of the Newark Police Department, retiring after about 31 years of service, and he also has experience supervising unarmed security guards for a company in New York.

“We are very happy to have Derek White join 91��Ƭ as the new Security Operations Manager,” said 91��Ƭ Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter. “Derek is a retired lieutenant from the Newark Police Department and brings his vast knowledge of law enforcement and public safety.”

During his tenure with the Newark Police Department, White worked in several investigative units, including robbery squad, the sexual assault unit and internal affairs. He also worked patrol, the taxi unit and the executive protection unit. After retiring from the department, he made the move to a security company in New York as a supervisor.

White applied to the position with 91��Ƭ to bring him closer to home. He hopes to make a difference in his new role.

“My intentions are just to use my knowledge and the experience that I’ve gotten from the police department and from life in general and try to make some type of impact as far as making things safer and also continuing what my predecessor started,” he said. “My goal is to just keep the positivity going.”

White has a long history in Newark, both personally and professionally. His grandfather came to Newark in the 1950s and operated a cleaners business in the city, his father served as a Newark police officer for 26 years, his mother taught in Newark for 28 years and his sister is currently a teacher for the Newark Public Schools.

White was born in East Orange and lived in Newark until he was in first grade. His parents then moved to Plainfield, where he attended elementary school and junior high school. He graduated from Seton Hall Prep for high school and attended a couple of years of college, but wasn’t excelling. His father gave him the application for the police exam and encouraged him to pursue a career in law enforcement, which he did.

He started the police academy in October 1989 and finished in March 1990. He officially retired from the Newark Police Department in February 2020.

White is currently a Newark resident and has been in the same home since 1996. He is familiar with 91��Ƭ from his time in the city and working in the police department. His mother’s aunt also lived at Gardens Senior for a time.

In his spare time, White likes to travel, ride his bicycle and go to the gym. He has a son and a stepdaughter.

Former NCC Security Supervisor, Now Newark Police Officer, Returns to NCC as Task Force Officer

Michelle Lang — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 21:15:20 +0000

Quawee Williams has a long history with 91��Ƭ. He grew up in NCC housing, worked for the organization’s Security Department for seven years and has returned as a Task Force Officer after achieving a career in law enforcement with the Newark Police Department.

Williams joined NCC as a Security Officer in 2012 and was promoted to Supervisor. In his seven years with the department, he worked every shift and at every site. He resigned from his role with NCC Security in September 2019 to become a Newark Police Officer. While he was excited for the opportunity and his next chapter, he was sad to leave 91��Ƭ.

“I loved it here. I loved the people, the community,” he said. “91��Ƭ was a great stepping stone for me. The transition, the training, the people I’ve interacted with, everything prepared me for the next level.”

Williams entered the Police Academy in September 2019 and officially became a Newark Police Officer on Feb. 3, 2020.

He decided to return to 91��Ƭ as a Task Force Officer to serve as a role model, showing others that they can achieve their career goals.

“I just want to change the mind for some of the kids that feel as though they don’t know where they want to go in life or what they can do in life,” he said.

NCC Security Operations Manager John Wade encouraged Williams to pursue becoming a police officer and helped him prepare for the transition. He is happy to have Williams back at NCC.

“Quawee Williams was one of my dependable supervisors when he worked on the Security side of the house,” Wade said. “As a former law enforcement executive, coaching him in joining the ranks of the Newark Police Department was my pleasure. Welcoming him back, as a Task Force Officer and a product of NCC, was a no brainer.”

Williams returned as a Task Force Officer in November. He works overnight shifts for NCC when he’s not working as a Newark Police Officer. He mainly responds to emergency calls.

“I’m happy that I can work for others and just be someone that can lend a helping hand in any situation and be a listening ear for those that need it,” he said.

Williams still lives in the area and has a young daughter.

He is grateful he had the opportunity to grow with 91��Ƭ, launch a law enforcement career and return to serve the organization and its residents once again.

Essex County Honors Trish Morris-Yamba and Kenneth A. Gibson with Memorial Plaques Along Legends Way

Michelle Lang — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:00:52 +0000

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Board of Chosen Freeholders dedicated memorial plaques along Legends Way to five individuals who made great contributions to the county during their lives. Among those recognized were two with close ties to 91��Ƭ: Trish Morris-Yamba, the late wife of NCC Board President Dr. A. Zachary Yamba, and Kenneth A. Gibson, a founding NCC board member and the first black mayor of Newark.

Elected officials, family members and friends gathered Sept. 18 at Governor Brendan Byrne Plaza in Newark for the ceremony and unveiling of the plaques along Legends Way.

In addition to Morris-Yamba and Gibson, county officials unveiled memorial plaques for Pearl Beatty, first Freeholder President; Lebby C. Jones, Freeholder and Irvington Councilwoman; and Ramon Rivera, founder of La Casa de Don Pedro.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said all five individuals were interested in community empowerment in addition to community service.

“Collectively the work that they did was probably more than thousands of us put together,” Baraka said. “There would be no baton to take if they didn’t pass it to us.”

Morris-Yamba served as the executive director of the Newark Day Center and the Greater Newark Fresh Air Fund for 32 years. She made it possible for inner-city children to participate in outdoor recreational activities, including summer camp. She founded the CHEN School and the Early Childhood Coalition of Newark. She was also a founding member of the National Congress of Black Women.

NCC Board President Yamba spoke about how his late wife never wanted to run for office herself but was always very active behind the scenes to help women seeking election.

“She traveled the length and breadth of this nation to make sure that women who were running for office had the support of strong black women,” Yamba said.

He added that many miss Morris-Yamba but they take comfort in knowing she had an impact.

“We know that what she has done will far outlive her life on this earth,” he said.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said Morris-Yamba was a friend personally and professionally.

“Anything I ever did, any office I ever ran for, the first contribution I would get was from Trish Morris-Yamba,” Oliver said. “Whether I was running on the line or off the line, Trish was always there for me.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo said Morris-Yamba was able to raise thousands of dollars to send children to summer camp but didn’t seek recognition.

“She never, ever looked for praise whatsoever,” he said.

Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff William Payne said children had a better life because of Morris-Yamba.

“Trish was just an exceptional person,” he said.

Gibson was one of the founding board members of 91��Ƭ. He is best known for becoming the first black mayor of Newark in 1970.

“This was a watershed moment for Essex County and for the entire nation,” said Essex County Freeholder President Brendan Gill of his election.

Oliver said without Gibson’s achievement, she would not hold her current position.

“I would not be lieutenant governor without the opportunities provided to me by Kenneth Allen Gibson,” she said. “Ken Gibson won election when I was 17 years old. I cried like a baby because I understood the significance of what he had done.”

DiVincenzo said Gibson became the mayor of Newark at a difficult time, after the uprising in 1967 and civil unrest.

“Ken came in and made peace within the city,” DiVincenzo said.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said Gibson was a close friend who he met while working at the Newark Police Department.

“He was just a terrific person to work with,” Fontoura said.

Gibson’s wife Camille thanked everyone in attendance on behalf of the family.

“Ken and I were joined at the hip and he was my hero,” she said. “We appreciate this very, very much.”

Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones said each memorial plaque represents a person who cared for others no matter their political beliefs.

“These are individuals that looked out for people regardless of their party banner,” he said. “They had a rich spirit of public service. They had a rich spirit of giving.”

NCC Security Efforts Help Reduce Crime

Michelle Lang — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 21:02:16 +0000

91��Ƭ’s Security Department has taken steps to help reduce crime within the organization’s footprint in Newark and those efforts are having an impact on the area.

Security Operations Manager John Wade explained that last year there were four hot spots for crime in Newark’s Central Ward located in NCC’s footprint.

“This year we have none because of some of the things that we’ve been doing and some of the things the police have been doing in this particular area,” he said.

Wade and NCC Director of Community Engagement Richard Cammarieri are involved with the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, which is part of the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. The initiative aims to provide relevant crime statistics and information on what is contributing to crime in a certain area. The Newark Police Department is also involved and Wade said NCC received information about crime within its footprint.

“That’s how we ultimately came up with strategies to address some things in this particular area,” Wade said.

Members of the NCC Security Task Force now have a stronger presence during the day and have been focusing on quality of life issues including illegal parking, loitering and drug activity.

“John’s ability to reach out and get involved in bringing in new ideas and resources to NCC is paying off. We are committed to renovating our properties and partnering with our residents to provide a safe, secure and dignified living experience,” said 91��Ƭ CEO Richard Rohrman. “These efforts combined with additional Task Force officers, more lighting, security cameras and outreach have had a measurable impact on the quality of life on the properties.”

During the course of patrolling and investigating, Security personnel also evaluate factors that contribute to incidents. That includes environmental factors, some of which are being addressed with the ongoing renovation project. Landscaping changes, additional lighting and cameras are expected to further improve the area. If Security personnel find that tenants are engaging in activities affecting the quality of life, the department teams up with Property Management to address issues with the tenants. Some tenants have been issued warnings and those who don’t comply can be referred to landlord-tenant court.

In addition to internal investigations and policy changes, Wade said NCC has a good relationship with the Newark Police Department. While 91��Ƭ is private property, the organization has given members of the Newark Police Department the authority to come onto NCC properties and enforce motor vehicle laws and city ordinances.

This summer, one of Security’s key focus areas was the playground between the NCC Neighborhood Center and Manor Family at 72 Hayes St. Wade said he wanted parents to feel safe sending their children to summer camp at the NCC Neighborhood Center, as well as dropping them off and picking them up.

“It’s my understanding through some of the critiques they got at the rec center that we definitely made an impact,” Wade said. “So I was very happy about that.”

There were no shootings in the area this summer, which was an improvement, and police checkpoints that were present for several months last year have been removed.

While Wade said there is still room for improvement, he has noticed more residents out and about and parents allowing their children outside to play.

“It’s good to see people who can just come out and take a morning stroll. And walk to the store and get a cup of coffee,” Wade said. “When you see people are able to do that in this particular area, I think you know you’re making a little bit of an impact.”

While violent crime is down in the area, crimes of opportunity are occurring, particularly thefts from vehicles. Wade encourages residents and visitors to always lock their cars and not leave valuables or other items in plain sight. He said even umbrellas, sunglasses or loose change could be items of interest.

With cameras being installed, NCC Security has more tools to help with both criminal and internal investigations. New parking regulations and house rules will be released soon as well to help improve quality of life issues.

Wade hopes NCC residents embrace the changes and work with the Security Department.

“The officers need resident support in order to do their job. It’s going to take a team effort,” he said.